Long but rewarding day today. We drove from San Francisco to Yosemite - an interesting cross-section of the state of California. It's a route from ocean, over rolling, lush and green mountains (I assume they're brown most of the year). Then across the San Joaquin Valley before gaining elevation into the Sierra Nevadas.
We were coming into the park from the Northwest and got stopped at the entrance near Hetch Hetchy. Right now the road is closed to all vehicles without 4wd or chains. There was a guy selling chains, but the folks in charge deemed that VT wouldn't approve of the situation so we decided to drive out and swing back up through the valley. Before we left we helped some folks put chains on their cars and I saved some ladies from making the mistake of putting chains on the front of a rwd. They actually gave us a tip despite us trying to refuse.
Anyway, after several hours chewed out of the day we finally made it into Yosemite Valley around 4:00pm and by that time some clouds had moved in shrouding the top of El Capitan. Despite this, El Cap is one of the most incredible natural wonders I've ever seen. I also spotted a very solid trout at one of the bridges.
We rolled out at sunset, taking the Southwest exit toward Fresno. Cutting through the tunnel and the snow-covered 5,000+ ft (what I assume) young sequoia forest. Finally getting to Fresno around 9.
Unless I die before I have a chance, I will be coming back to this valley. Yosemite is incredible.
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